"To interpret the past" means to understand and explain historical events, situations, or actions by analyzing and finding their true meaning or significance. Full definition
You can only interpret the past in terms of the present. (religion-online.org)
Understanding the factors that can influence temperatures near the tropical lower stratosphere is important for interpreting past climate change and projecting future changes. (judithcurry.com)
The nature of the rock record and sampling biases are frequently ignored when interpreting past climate and environmental data, leading to misleading interpretations. (royalsociety.org)